Too. I would also add that in my 30+ years of driving, and 20+ years of fleet management, I have yet to have "bad gas" after seasonal machine sitting; snowmobiles sitting all summer, boat sitting all winter, etc. 
Bad Gas
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 6,314
Likes: 508
From: South-central Missouri
"Truth is where you find it." So, to say (in effect) "because I didn't have a problem, nobody will..." is leaving one's self wide open to be proven wrong.
And furthermore, is the term "bad gas" - just a catch phrase which impugns the fuel even if it was contaminated after it left the refinery (by water or the like)? I suspect so.
Water contamination is perhaps the most often encountered contributor to the "bad gas" scenario. But, ethanol in the fuels has the ability to absorb some water - the reason why I wonder if that is why the additive "HEAT" (mostly alcohol) is not heard of so much as it was before ethanol was widely used.
One example of water contamination happened in Wilmington, IL about 3-4 years ago after one of the stations received a load of contaminated fuel from a distributor's bulk tanks. Dozens of cars were affected resulting in cars having to be towed and fuel drained. It even hit the local news. So, it can happen, is my point.
"Bad gas?" A "catch-all" phrase, methinks. I'm betting on contamination - probably after the refinery in the vast majority of legit cases.
And furthermore, is the term "bad gas" - just a catch phrase which impugns the fuel even if it was contaminated after it left the refinery (by water or the like)? I suspect so.
Water contamination is perhaps the most often encountered contributor to the "bad gas" scenario. But, ethanol in the fuels has the ability to absorb some water - the reason why I wonder if that is why the additive "HEAT" (mostly alcohol) is not heard of so much as it was before ethanol was widely used.
One example of water contamination happened in Wilmington, IL about 3-4 years ago after one of the stations received a load of contaminated fuel from a distributor's bulk tanks. Dozens of cars were affected resulting in cars having to be towed and fuel drained. It even hit the local news. So, it can happen, is my point.
"Bad gas?" A "catch-all" phrase, methinks. I'm betting on contamination - probably after the refinery in the vast majority of legit cases.
Last edited by Paul Workman; Jan 6, 2015 at 07:19 AM.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 672
Likes: 2
From: Cheltenham, England
"Truth is where you find it." So, to say (in effect) "because I didn't have a problem, nobody will..." is leaving one's self wide open to be proven wrong.
And furthermore, is the term "bad gas" - just a catch phrase which impugns the fuel even if it was contaminated after it left the refinery (by water or the like)? I suspect so.
Water contamination is perhaps the most often encountered contributor to the "bad gas" scenario. But, ethanol in the fuels has the ability to absorb some water - the reason why I wonder if that is why the additive "HEAT" (mostly alcohol) is not heard of so much as it was before ethanol was widely used.
One example of water contamination happened in Wilmington, IL about 3-4 years ago after one of the stations received a load of contaminated fuel from a distributor's bulk tanks. Dozens of cars were affected resulting in cars having to be towed and fuel drained. It even hit the local news. So, it can happen, is my point.
"Bad gas?" A "catch-all" phrase, methinks. I'm betting on contamination - probably after the refinery in the vast majority of legit cases.
And furthermore, is the term "bad gas" - just a catch phrase which impugns the fuel even if it was contaminated after it left the refinery (by water or the like)? I suspect so.
Water contamination is perhaps the most often encountered contributor to the "bad gas" scenario. But, ethanol in the fuels has the ability to absorb some water - the reason why I wonder if that is why the additive "HEAT" (mostly alcohol) is not heard of so much as it was before ethanol was widely used.
One example of water contamination happened in Wilmington, IL about 3-4 years ago after one of the stations received a load of contaminated fuel from a distributor's bulk tanks. Dozens of cars were affected resulting in cars having to be towed and fuel drained. It even hit the local news. So, it can happen, is my point.
"Bad gas?" A "catch-all" phrase, methinks. I'm betting on contamination - probably after the refinery in the vast majority of legit cases.
Pro
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 544
Likes: 33
From: SW of Chicago Illinois
Interesting discussion about the bad gas, refineries and gas stations. It reminds me of my sister-in-laws situation back in 2012. This might be the scenario Paul was referring to in Wilmington. BP recalled 4.7 million gallons of gas shipped from their Whiting, IN refinery. The gas was sold at 575 gas stations in four states, IL, IN, WI & OH. There were at least 8600 people who filed claims for repairs from 'bad gas'. (my sister-in-law one of them) So I think BP will acknowledge, to the tune of a $7 million settlement, that it can happen at the refinery level.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,677
Likes: 812
From: Saskatoon Sask.
Interesting discussion about the bad gas, refineries and gas stations. It reminds me of my sister-in-laws situation back in 2012. This might be the scenario Paul was referring to in Wilmington. BP recalled 4.7 million gallons of gas shipped from their Whiting, IN refinery. The gas was sold at 575 gas stations in four states, IL, IN, WI & OH. There were at least 8600 people who filed claims for repairs from 'bad gas'. (my sister-in-law one of them) So I think BP will acknowledge, to the tune of a $7 million settlement, that it can happen at the refinery level.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 3,496
Likes: 475
From: New Jersey
As far as a bad track of gas in a car, never has happened to me as far as I recall.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 34,988
Likes: 515
From: Riverside County Southern California
Co-winner 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
2018 Corvette of Year Finalist
2017 C4 of Year
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St. Jude Donor '09 thru '20
This happened to me with a Conoco in Oklahoma City. I was driving the Hot Rod Power Tour 2012 in the Ghost, and his 11 to 1 compression did not appreciate that crap. Couple of miles after I left the gas station the engine light lit on, plugged in the OBD reader and got a "lean" code.
I drove it off, and that night I found ethanol free gasoline. That is good stuff.
Immediately after I was done filling up, I reset the code/light, and it never came back on.
If you know your ride, you'll know when you have the good or the bad.
I drove it off, and that night I found ethanol free gasoline. That is good stuff.
Immediately after I was done filling up, I reset the code/light, and it never came back on.If you know your ride, you'll know when you have the good or the bad.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 786
Likes: 31
Cruise-In II Veteran
In Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin a few years ago BP put thousands of gallons of contaminated gasoline on the market. Made the repair shops a little wealthier and after the lawsuits BP a little poorer. Since that BP refinery supplies many other brands, it was not just BP stations affected.
While not gasoline I have seen it personally with diesel. One time in the 1990's I had over twenty semis sitting because of sludge clogging the filters. I was just one of several hundred out of service that had fueled at that particular truck stop (a national chain). It was traced back to the refinery.
Attached is an article from the Chicago Tribune:
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2...finery-bad-gas
While not gasoline I have seen it personally with diesel. One time in the 1990's I had over twenty semis sitting because of sludge clogging the filters. I was just one of several hundred out of service that had fueled at that particular truck stop (a national chain). It was traced back to the refinery.
Attached is an article from the Chicago Tribune:
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2...finery-bad-gas
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Pro
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 600
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From: Elyria, Ohio
That shouldn't be a surprise to anyone familiar with diesel.
Microorganisms can actually grow in diesel fuel. It's more of a
problem with boats that sit idle than big-trucks that use up their
fuel pretty regularly. I don't think that can happen with gasoline.
Microorganisms can actually grow in diesel fuel. It's more of a
problem with boats that sit idle than big-trucks that use up their
fuel pretty regularly. I don't think that can happen with gasoline.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 2,931
Likes: 127
From: Ashland Alabama
Yep algae will grow in diesel. Its a pain to get out too.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 844
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From: Butler PA
I never buy gas when the tanker truck is filling the underground tanks. As I understand it, this stirs up any sediment in them and opens consequent fillups to contamination. It was recommended to allow time for this sediment to settle back down to the bottom.
Just my $.02 worth.
Just my $.02 worth.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2005
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From: Riverside County Southern California
Co-winner 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
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I never buy gas when the tanker truck is filling the underground tanks. As I understand it, this stirs up any sediment in them and opens consequent fillups to contamination. It was recommended to allow time for this sediment to settle back down to the bottom.
Just my $.02 worth.
Just my $.02 worth.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 925
Likes: 6
From: East Wenatchee Washington
I think he means there are no longer any "in line" filters - they're lifetime filters attached to the fuel pump. Which makes them a real pain to replace. I understand they last about 10 years, which means most of us would have had to replace ours two or three times by now.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 21,543
Likes: 3,216
From: Park City Utah
Right. Still a filter. Auto co's didn't eliminate filters b/c gas stations recently added filters, as was implied above.
Gas stations have had filters for decades, cars still have filters, albeit, cheaper ones.
Gas stations have had filters for decades, cars still have filters, albeit, cheaper ones.